Alec Baldwin fired off a prop gun that accidentally killed a woman on set of his new movie, it has been reported.
The 63-year-old actor has been filming the 19th century western in New Mexico, with the fatal incident taking place on Thursday.
According to Deadline, a spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks.
The woman who was killed has been named as 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins, who worked as the movie’s director of photography. The film’s director Joel Souza, 48, was also injured.
In a statement, a rep for Rust Movies Productions LLC said: ‘The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones.
‘We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation.’
They added: ‘We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.’
The Sante Fe Sheriff’s Department also confirmed to the publication that Baldwin was the person to discharge the prop.
A police official said: ‘Mr Baldwin was questioned by investigators and released. No arrests or charges have been filed.
‘This investigation remains open and active. No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives.’
Authorities responded to an incident on Bonanza Creek at around 1:50pm on Thursday following 911 calls indicating someone had been shot on set.
According to People, Hutchins was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital where she later died from her injuries.
In the days prior to the fatal incident, Hutchins had shared photos from the movie set, including one which she captioned: ‘One of the perks of shooting a western is you get to ride horses on your day off:).’
The cinematographer’s website biography states that she was born in Ukraine and graduated from the AFI conservatory in 2015. She was selected as one of American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of 2019 as well as a cinematographer for the 21st Century Fox DP Lab in 2018.
Hutchins also worked as an investigative journalist with British documentary productions in Europe before she moved onto films, and she held a graduate degree in International Journalism from Ukraine’s Kyiv National University.
Some of her movie credits include 2020’s Archenemy, 2019’s Darlin’ and The Mad Hatter, released this year.
Tributes have poured in for Hutchins, with actor Joe Manganiello posting on Instagram: ‘I woke up to the messages and read the news and I am in shock. I was so lucky to have had @halynahutchins as my DP on Archenemy.
‘She was an absolutely incredible talent and a great person. She had such an eye and a visual style, she was the kind of cinematographer that you wanted to see succeed because you wanted to she what she could pull off next… and she was a fantastic person.’
He continued: ‘There was no amount of pressure she couldn’t handle. She was a great collaborator and an ally to anyone in front of her camera. Everyone who knew her was rooting for her.
‘I can’t believe that this could happen in this day and age… gunfire from a prop gun could kill a crew member? This is a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to her family and especially to her son. I am so sad today for everyone who knew her and worked with her…’
Dwayne Johnson tweeted: ‘I am so so sorry. Rest easy. My love and strength to your family.’
The Suicide Squad director James Gunn added: ‘My greatest fear is that someone will be fatally hurt on one of my sets. I pray this will never happen. My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedy today on Rust, especially Halyna Hutchins & her family.’
Rust, which also stars Frances Fisher and Jensen Ackles, follows a 13-year-old boy who is left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880’s Kansas. The boy goes on the run with his long estranged grandfather (Baldwin) after he’s sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher.
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